HOUSTON—While Texas Gov.
Rick Perry
travels the world in preparation for another potential presidential run, he is relying on a colorful, cigar-smoking trial lawyer to fend off criminal charges back home.

The Republican governor, who was indicted last month on abuse-of-power charges that he has said are politically motivated, surprised some Texas political observers by choosing
Tony Buzbee
as his lead lawyer
﻿.

A former local Democratic official who has made his living in a trial bar that the governor has long criticized, Mr. Buzbee may help Mr. Perry bolster his claim that people of all political stripes have rallied to his defense. But his hiring owes more to the close friendship they have developed.

"It was an ironic choice to hire Tony, given his pedigree," said
Brian Wice,
a Houston criminal defense lawyer. But, he added, "one of the most critical components of an attorney-client relationship is trust."

The 46-year-old founder of the Buzbee Law Firm in Houston leads a defense team that includes a former Texas Supreme Court chief justice and two Washington, D.C., lawyers who have worked for GOP presidents.

Mr. Perry "chose Tony Buzbee to lead his legal team because he has great confidence and trust in his abilities," a spokesman for the governor said.

While declining to spell out his legal strategy, Mr. Buzbee, who has never tried a criminal case, vowed to become an expert in criminal law and planned to win dismissal of the charges. "I don't think it's a case that ever has a chance on appeal of ever standing up," he said.

In an interview in his 73rd floor office overlooking downtown Houston, Mr. Buzbee said he was in Austin when Mr. Perry was indicted, and was left "scratching my head" after a text alerted him to the news.

The next day, he was called to the governor's mansion, where he and Mr. Perry began strategizing.

A grand jury indicted Mr. Perry last month over his threat to veto $7.5 million in funding for a prosecutorial unit if District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg didn't resign following an arrest last year for drunken driving.

Ms. Lehmberg
refused to quit, and Mr. Perry carried out the veto.

Mr. Perry has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts, and on Monday his legal team submitted a motion to quash the indictment, reiterating several arguments advanced in a filing last month that claimed the indictment was unconstitutional.

The second filing underscores the governor's determination to "push the case," Mr. Buzbee said. "This case should have never been brought, and we want no delays."

Michael McCrum,
the special prosecutor in the case, didn't respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Buzbee is a former chairman of the Galveston County Democratic Party, and he once ran for state office as a Democrat. But he helped Mr. Perry as a debate coach in the 2012 presidential race and donated to pro-Perry political-action committees, campaign-finance records show. He also has supported Democratic politicians.

Mr. Perry has been critical of the trial bar during his 14 years in office, supporting many bills to limit jury verdicts.

Mr. Buzbee said he believes the governor's position is that valid cases "that should be brought can be brought," and that their differences on the issue haven't harmed a bond they formed over their shared rural Texas upbringings, military service—Mr. Perry was in the Air Force—and a devotion to Texas A&M University.

The son of a butcher, Mr. Buzbee served as a Marine before graduating second in his class from the University of Houston Law Center. In 2001, he started his own firm, initially specializing in suing oil and gas firms on behalf of injured workers. His clients include professional musicians and sports stars.

Mr. Buzbee estimates he has won more than $1.5 billion in injury suits.

Along the way, Mr. Buzbee has amassed three private jets, a Houston mansion and numerous luxury cars.

He also has collected critics. Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a backer of the governor, called Mr. Buzbee "an opponent to tort reform."

To such detractors, Mr. Buzbee has a stock response: "Wolves don't care what sheep think."